Health exchange to issue RFP for $20M in contract work

The New Mexico Health Insurance Exchange expects to go out to bid next week on a public relations, educational and marketing contract that could be worth up to $20 million.

The Exchange will issue either one RFP (request for proposals) or three separate ones for the job, Exchange Board Member Dr. Martin Hickey said Friday during an Exchange board meeting.

Firms looking to bid on the contract or contracts will have up to 10 days to reply, Hickey said, adding that the board hopes to select a vendor or vendors between July 1 and July 12.

“If you (companies) want to bid, you don’t have much time,” Hickey said.

Hickey, who chairs the Exchange’s Marketing, PR and Outreach Committee said that marketing, PR and education are separate functions and that the committee isn’t sure whether to combine all three in one contract or issue three separate contracts. He added that the contracts will be standardized because the Exchange is operating on a tight deadline and needs to get firms on board quickly. Thus, there will be no contract negotiations. Firms that respond to the bid request will be acknowledging that they accept the idea that there will be no negotiations, Hickey added.